Super cooler

ABSTRACT

The Super Cooler will be the only cooler that is designed to keep your food cool with a variety of different types of cooling mediums, i.e. ice cubes, frozen plastic modules, etc. of different sizes, but does not take up space in the cooler. The Super Cooler with its unique side/front design will provide cooling from three different large areas as well as the “cold water” which melts into the compartment below the food. The result will be a cooler that keeps the water separated from the cooling medium, and separated from the food in the cooler, to prevent spoilage of food, the melted ice inevitably melts into the water storage space. Space for food storage will increase because the ice or frozen modules are not taking up space in the cooler area. You can actually fit more food and beverages in this cooler and they will come out of the cooler in the same condition as you put them in the cooler . . . unspoiled because they are not floating in melted ice water.

This particular item is a normal type of “ice chest,” “cooler,” or portable plastic container, that would normally be used to keep food or beverages at a cooler temperature than the surrounding outside ambient temperature with the use of “ice cubes” or “frozen plastic modules. This unit would be unique because it would hold the ice cubes in a “separate” portion of the cooler keeping the ice and frozen modules away from the food. It would also have a separate storage unit at the bottom of the unit that would allow the melted ice to drain into that storage unit and it would keep the food and other items dry. This cooler would be assembled in the same manner as current coolers using plastic, but it would have these separate unique storage compartments built into the design.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Not Applicable

LISTING COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This particular item, a cooler, is utilized by every person in every walk of life when they have a need or desire to transport or keep food and beverages at an appropriate and safe temperature for human consumption.

The problem with the current technology for this particular item has remained the same since its introduction into the American marketplace 40 to 50 years ago or earlier.

1. A person has to place a large quantity of ice cubes in the “cooler” so that it can keep food or beverages “cold, which also takes up much of the “storage space” in the cooler.

2. Once the ice cubes have been in the cooler for a period of time they melt, and, if any sandwiches or other type of “non-water” friendly food slips to the bottom of the cooler, the food is ruined by sitting in water.

3. Recently “frozen plastic modules” have been introduced to help alleviate problem #2, but they still leave us with problem #1, i.e. they use up limited space in the cooler that could be used for food or beverages and they give off small amounts of liquid as they warm to ambient temperature.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The benefits of this product and the characteristics which make it unique from all other coolers are quite clear:

1. No space is lost inside the cooler for the storing of food and beverages due to the large quantity of ice cubes, or the numerous “frozen plastic modules.”

2. The normally unused insulating space of typical coolers, on three sides of the cooler, is now used for the storage of cooling mediums—such as: “ice” or “frozen plastic modules.” Two of the sides of the cooler are adjustable to accommodate different sizes of ice and “frozen plastic modules, on some models.”

3. Food on the bottom of the cooler is not ruined after a few hours because it is sitting in a pool of water from melted ice cubes.

4. Water from melted ice cubes is stored in a storage area on the bottom of the cooler, which keeps the water away from food and still assists in the cooling function. A spigot is provided on the bottom of the cooler to “dump out” water at the appropriate time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1/3

This picture depicts a frontal view of the cooler showing two of the side “Ice Storage Areas,” the holes in the side of each ice holding area, which allow the melted ice to drain down into the “Water Storage Area. Above both of those areas are a “Plate Storage Area,” and a “Silverware Storage Area,” integrated into the top of the cooler. “Notched Areas” where sides can be moved to adjust to fit the size of the ice or frozen plastic modules are also indicated.

FIG. 2/3

This picture depicts a side view of the cooler looking at the front “Ice Storage Area” and the sides which also hold ice. The bottom shows the “Melted Ice Water Storage Area,” and the holes that allow the melted water to escape into the bottom holding area.

FIG. 3/3

This picture depicts a top view of the cooler showing all three of the ice storage areas as well as the holes in the bottom, which shows how the water vents to the bottom storage area. This also shows the notched areas, which allow the side walls to be moved in further for more or larger ice or frozen plastic modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The elements that provide the improvement in the standard design of food and beverage coolers are the following:

1. This cooler will have various models that will have four sides that are stationery sides and other models that will have two movable sides, that fit into notches at the bottom and sides of the cooler that will allow for the moving of the sides to accommodate larger or smaller sizes of ice cubes and “frozen plastic modules.” The slots will allow the “movable sides” to lock into place and provide a firm divider that will hold the ice and the food in separate compartments and allow the melted ice to vent into the storage area at the bottom of the container.

2. There will be holes in the bottom of the section where the ice cubes and “frozen plastic modules,” are located so that any condensation, or the water from the melted ice, can be routed to a storage area in the bottom of the cooler.

3. There will be a separate “water storage area” on the bottom of the cooler that will keep the water from the ice cubes separate from the food and beverages. 

1. This cooler will have stationery sides in some models, and it will also have some models with two movable plastic sides to keep the ice separate from the food or beverages in the cooler, the adjustable sides will vary to fit larger ice cubes or larger “frozen plastic modules.”
 2. In the same area that is reserved for the ice and frozen modules there will be small holes in the bottom to allow the melting ice and condensation to flow to the bottom storage area in the cooler. The separated bottom area of the cooler will be a storage area for melted ice water and condensation that will serve the dual purpose of keeping the water separate from the food, but will be able to transfer its cooling and insulating properties to the food and beverages in the cooler above.
 3. There will also be a storage area in the top of the cooler which will allow for the storage of paper plates and plastic knives, spoons, forks, or silverware. 